Blotting-pad



(No Model.)

A. B. UPHAM.

BLOTTING PAD.

No. 566,356. Patented Aug. 25, 1896.

Fig.1.

NITED STATES ATENT UFFICE.

BLOTTING-PAD,

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 566,356, dated August 25, 1896. Application filed June 5, 1896. Serial No. 594,427. (No model.)

T0 at whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTEMAS BOUTELLE UP- HAM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented an Improved Blotting-Padg and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

The object of my invention is the construction of a blotting-pad which shall be at once inexpensive to manufacture-and capable of putting into a knockdown condition for convenience of transportation. Incidental to these improvements is the further advantage of an easy and ready change of blotters when one has become well inked. All this I accomplish by the following simple construction.

Upon referring to the drawings my blotting-pad will be seen complete and in a condition for use in Figure 1, a perspective View. Fig. 2 shows the device knockdown and in a side View; Figs. 3 and 4-, a modification.

The part A is the handle or blotter-holder and is formed from sheet metal, the lateral edges a being rounded or folded over for comfort and convenience in grasping. The ends of the part A are folded down and inward to form what might be termed abutments a.

The blotters B, here shown as four in num ber, and the stiffening-plate O are all made of precisely the same length and width. The latter dimension is the same as that of the blotter-holder A, but their length is greater, as shown in Fig. 2. Their natural condition is flat, as indicated in said figure, and the stiffener O is of thin but elastic sheet metal,

although a firm quality of pressed board is almost equally serviceable and much cheaper.

All that is necessary to do in order to put this blotting-pad into a condition for use is to place the stiffener 0 upon the blotters, put

one end of them against one abutment a, and

bend them until their other end can come within the other abutment a, when their elasticity will retain them in position. Even without the stiffener O the inherent elasticity of the blotters, if several are used, is'sufficient to retain them in place between the abutments 0. and to support them while in use; but said part 0 renders them more. durable and prevents their breaking under unusual pressure.

Figs. 3 and 4; illustrate an improved arrangement of my blotting-pad. In this construction the edges a of the blotter-holder A are bent up and over in such a manner as to form recesses a for holding a card or tablet F. This part F may be anerasive tablet for the reception of memoranda, or it may be simply a strip of paper containing a calendar or any desired advertising matter. The folded edges a serve, in addition to the purposes above described, the function of giving firmness andstiffness to the holder A. Without these the pressure of the hand in its use would bend the holder and render it ungraceful in appearance and awkward in use.

lVhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is as follows, to Wit:

1. In a blotting-pad, the sheet-m etal holder, A, having folded lateral edges, a, and ends bent as shown to form abutments, a, in combination with the blotters, D, held in place between said abutments by their inherent resilience, as set forth.

2. In a blotting pad, the sheet-metal holder, A, having abutments, a, and edges, a, folded to form the recesses, CF, in combination with the tablet held in said recesses, and the blotters, D, sprung between said abutments, as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing invention I have hereunto set my hand this 4th day of June in the year 1896.

ARTEMAS BOUTELLE UPHAM.

\Vitnesses WM. H. BAKER, CLARA I. HUSE. 

